Variable speed friction drive



Jan. 29, 1935, R. RAGAN u VARIABL SPEED FRICTlON DRIVE Filed June 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 29, 1935. R. RAGAN 1,989,112

VARIABLE SPEED FRICTION DRIVE Filed June 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan- 29, 1,935. R. RAGAN 1,989,112

VARIABLE SPED FRICTION DRIVE Filed June 5, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 drumm,

Jan. 29, 1935. R. RAGAN` 1,989,112

VARIABLE SPEED FRICTION DRIVE Filed June 5, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 29, 1935 -U Ni 'rE-D STATE s PAT VARIABLE ASPEED FRICTION DRIVE Ralph Bagan, Atlanta, Ga.`

Application V.lune y5, 1930, Serial No.f459,-396

7 Claims.

A.This invention relates to a variable speed friction drive.

VOne-of the principal objects thereof is to provide a friction drive of the type wherein a ..5 drive'wheellengages between the tapered faces of driven discs, in which the driving wheel will automatically position itself -relative to 'thedriven discs, injaccordance with the load to be overcome,l not only as -the driving motor is started yup butV also as the speed of 'the driven discs increases, this automatic positioning of the driving vhel occurring throughout the variations of .Another object of the 'inventi'o'n is to provide a.. drive of the 'friction type, in which the vdriving wheel is sowdisposed with relation to the driven discs 'that'the former, upon 'the application of power, automatically digs in between the vdriven discs to pick up the load without slippage, and automatically 'applies the necessary 'power vto the-driven discs `totake up. the load;

Anotherv object of the invention is to Aprovide in av drive of 'the type mentioned, a construction 'inwhich the driving motor .and thedriving wheel Vare mounted as a unit `upon an axis of oscillation s'opositioned with reference to 'theaxis -of rrotation of the driven discs that 'the action "of the driving wheel, and the weightfof the rmotor are "utilized in automatic:ally 4positioning the driving wheel with reference tothe ,driven discs to tak up the load'when the motor isl started.

Another object of thev invention jis to provide ardrivemechanism in which the driving wheel is so constructed as to equalize the 'application Aof .p'ower to the driven discs, Iand to elirr'rinate friction and `wear between the parts.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide ya driving mechanism which Vmay bev readily applied 'to Aspinning frames now in operation at minimum expense, and Vwith fthe occupation of minimum room and floor space, or to any other Vmachine requiring this-type of drive.

Another vobject isfto provide `means whereby the driven discs are adjustable to different dis-v tances apart, so that an adjustable speed friction drive is provided.

A Afurther object of the invention is to provide means, where the driveris used in connection Vwitha spinning frameof a cotton mill,tofauto .matically increase thespeed of the drivenfdiscs, and Ihence the spinning mechanisnnas .the layer `thickness of the spun yarn on the bobbins increases, and -in connectionl with 'this Object 'of v.fthe invention, I have shewnjand'described such means as an in'dexingmechani'sm particularly suitable .in connection'` with the method l'of winding the 'bobbins known' as the warp `bui-ld.

VAnother'object is to provide'in connection with the drive when applied to av spinning 'frarnaindexing mechanism through the operation sof, 5 which `theldriven discs are A'spaced further-'and furtherY apart, in accordance with the layer thickness of "the spun 'yarn' onthe bobbins, to automatically `increase the speed of 'the spinning operation as the same proceeds, by allowingfthe 10 driving wheel to enter further in between-'the driven discs.

A further Vobject of the invention is -to provide, in an indexing mechanism 'for 1automatic'ally increasing 'the speed lof the spinning machinery, 15 means whereby the indexing yine'chanisrn #may be quicklyr returned to position 'for beginning the spinning operation. 4 L

Another Objectis to 'provide inthefindeiiing mechanism, 'mea-ns whereby the llatter is actuated 2O from the usual machinery incorporated-lin spin-i 'ning frames.V

Still another object of the invention is to previde novel frames :for supporting'theimotcr, and for supporting'the 'bearing lfor the lextension-"df 25 'the'cylinder shaft of the vspinning frame. Y

With these and other 'objects in /view,' which will become Amore apparent` as 'the-description proceeds, the invention. resides inthe `Constr/urchtion, combination and arrangement [of Vparts 30 hereinaftermore fully described, and claimed. 'In the .drawings which. illustratel o'ne 'of the forms thev invention may t`ake,-

Fig. 1 represents aside view, .partially in secition, ofthe drive, showing it applied Atola spinning frame, the endof theflatter being` partially "i1- lustrated, and n shown in section;

Fig. V24 represents a vertical sectional View through thedriven discs, showing theinassem'bly 40 on the-'extensionof the cylinder shaft;

, Fig. 3 'represents -a `sectional view-,onv 4vthe line A3-,3 of Fig. y2, showing the camprovided-on the .bushing yontwhich lthe movable -disc :is mounted;

;:-.Fig. s4 represents a v`fragmentary elevational 45 viewof 4theimovablefdriven discs from thepppcsite `face offthatshown in Fig. 3;

LFig.'5 represents van. end view,.of=. lthe .spinning frame,-showing the drive mounted in respect thereto; 50 Fig-.-6 Irepresents an `:enlarged fsectional; ,vliew fthreughythe-sprling adjustment forithe motor; fFig. FTrepresent's .a view,.`partially insection, .showingfthe- Iend framefof Iti'r'e spinning zfrfame, 'locking V"from `fthe Y inside of` the spinning 'L frame 55 towards the outside, in an opposite direction from that from which the showing of Fig. is viewed;

Fig. 8 represents a transverse sectional view, partially in elevation, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 9 represents a View, partially in section, taken at right angles to Fig. 8;

Fig. A10 represents a vertical sectional view through the driving wheel which is mounted on the motor shaft;

Fig. 11 represents a view of the spider of the driving wheel;

Fig. 12 represents, on a reduced scale, a fragmentary inside elevational view of one of the discs of the driving wheel removed;

Fig. 13 represents an enlarged view, partially in section, of portions of the operating ratchet and trip lever of the indexing mechanism; and Fig. 14 represents a view, partly in section, showing a form of the drive where the discs are adjustable to different distances apart, to provide an adjustable speed drive.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the end frame of the spinning frame is indicated generally at A, the shaft of the tin cylinder of the spinning frame is indicated at B, the driven' discs which are mounted on the extension C of such shaft are indicated at D and E, respecmore, the driving Wheel automatically positions itself with reference to the driven discs in accordance with the load. As an aid to this end, the discs D and E are slightly flexible, and'I have found that their flexing through a few, say in the neighborhood ofrtwenty,y thousandths of an inch is sufficient. The working surfaces of the discs are tapered slightly, as at 4, such surfaces on the two discs opposing each other, and the operating surfaces of the driving wheel are' tapered slightly, as at 5, to cooperate with the taperedsurfaces of the driven discs to transmit the power from the motor to the driven discs. rIhe surfaces of the discs and wheel are preferably so formed that a line contact, of relatively short length, is formed between the driving wheel and the discs. .The motor and the driving wheel Aare mounted on an axis of oscillation so posilcome and the discs come up to running speed 1 automatically moves outwardly or away from' 1,.

the axis to assume a position. to transmit the required power for maintaining the speed of the load without .unnecessary effort on the part of the motor, and without undue frictional resistance between the wheel and the discs.

In operation, thewheel, when the Amotor is started up, can be seen to move inwardly towards the vertical plane of the axis of thediscs, and

as the inertia of the load is overcome, to move outwardly as the speed increases, untilit assumes spin axis of the discs that the line of contact between the driving wheel and discs, i. e., the line joining the axis O, of the wheel, and the spin axis C of the discs, is maintained at some point ,within the octant of the discs which occurs on the side of the latter towards the driving wheel, immediately below the horizontal axis of the discs. Such octant is indicated in Fig. 5 at K. Preferably, the contact is maintained throughout the inward and outward movement of the driving wheel within about 15, comprising the central portion of such octant, as indicated at K', in Fig. 5. The radius of oscillation, i. e., the line joining the axis O of the driving wheel, and the axis of oscillation '7, forms an oblique angle, and in the particular installation illustrated, an obtuse angle, with the line of contact between the driving wheel and discs, and the driving wheel is rotated in such direction as to bring the successive lines of contact of the driving wheel into engagement with the driven discs, as such lines of contact are moving from within the obtuse angle toward the outside thereof, i. e., from below upwardly as viewed in Fig. 5 in the installation shown, or in a counter-clockwise direction. This arrangement and positioning of the driving wheel, and direction of rotation given it, thus causes the wheel to automatically tend to ride up hill on the tapered surfaces of the discs, i. e., further in toward the axis of the discs, as the power is delivered to the latter, and hence to dig in between the discs. The latter will be driven in a clockwise direction. As the driving wheel oscillates in and out closer to and further from the axis of the driven discs, the line contact of the wheel follows an arc or curved line (indicated by the double dotted lines Z, Fig. 5) which, extended, intersects the circumference of the driven discs. In the arrangement shown the arc is located between the axis of oscillation and the axis of the discs.

It will be understood that the principles resulting in the digging-in action of the driving wheel and its automatic assumption of the correct position for maintaining the speed of the load, are not limited to the particular relative positioning of discs, wheel and axis of oscillation illustrated, but may be used in installations where other relative positioning of these parts is used. That described is given for purposes of illustration.

Motor and supporting frame I provide for the planetary movement of the driving wheel about its center of oscillation, without requiring a iiexible connection between the driving wheel and motor, and take advantage of the weight of the motor to augment the effort of the driving wheel in digging in between the driven discs to overcome the inertia of the load when' the motor is started up. To this end, the

motor base I, to which the motor is xedly secured, is pivotally mounted on a bar or rod 6, the axis l 'whereof lforms 'the axis of foscillatin ofthe drivingwheel andinotor. Ihe motor base I includesithe "bodyfportion 7, thickenedat itsends at 8e, upon which ends `the lugs or feetf9 of the motorr'estfcap screws-or other suitablefa'stening means '-10 passing through these,` parts -to connect the motor' toits base. Flanges 11 depend from the-'ends of the body portionof -the'base, being reinforced by the webs 12, and are'provided with bearings 13, which receive the bar 6. A rod 14 may connect the bearing portions `of the anges to Y'rigidly maintain such portions in'alignment. Tli'emo'tor base is also slidable longitudinally of the rod 6,not only'to allow of the driving wheel beingfcorrectly aligned with the driven discs, `but alsovtoallow of the-bodily movement of the motor base, motor rand driving wheel longitudinally of the 'rod vas the vdriving wheel moves .up the slope of one'ofthediscsasthe othersepara'tes under action lof the indexing mechanism, as will later appear.

Thebar 6,-at its inner end, toward the spinning frame, is carried -in a bracket support, indicated generally at L, being locked therein by one or more screws 15. The bracket support is provided with 'upper and lower sets of elongated slots 16, which receive bolts 17 which X the'bracket support upon the lower bar 18-of 'the' machine frame A, such Vboltsat their innerV ends passing through a plate 19 onthe inside ofthe' bar 18, and receiving nuts'for lsecurely tightening the bolts in position. While the bar 6 and its bracketl support L are of such strength that theywill support the weightof` the motor and the thrust imparted by the drive when in operation, I 'may additionally supportthe outer end of the bar by means of the-hoor bracket M. Such lbracket may be secured to the floor of the-mill'by suitable fastenings 20,'andit is centrally slotted, asiat 21, to receive a vcap screw 22, which engages into-the endweb 23 of the bar itself. The-slots v16 in the-bracket supportL Yand. inthe oor bracket M are of such length V*asto allow vthe positioning of the motor supporting bar,l andthe supportwith which it is associated, on spinning frames in vwhich the' lower endy bars corresponding vto 18 are at different distances fromr the mill floor.

The bearings 13, which pivotally support the motor upony the bar 6, are slightly-offset, away -frcmthef-axis of the driven discs, with respect to the-Vertical plane of the axis O of the vmotorI and driving wheel, whenthe latter arein the stationary position with the driving'whe'el engagingY the discs. This positioning of the axis of oscillationresults -in a tendency of `the`motor to tilt `under its weight toward the discs, to--` thus augment the tendency of 'the driving wheel-to dig in between such discs. I may-also provide an `additional weight, and, to this end, an arm '24 may extend outwardly from the' motorbase in the same direction in whichl the motor tilts as-the driving wheel digs in, and carries aweight 25, which is adjustable along the arm ytowardand "away from the motor, such'weight being provided with' aset screw 26," which maybe engaged 'with Athe armtosecure the weight in the` adjusted posiaction-,ofthe driving `wheel as the motor tilts flurther "towards the discs, and to limit'v the movement ofthe'fmotor to'prevent theline-of contactffrom i moving out: of the eiective` octant: of the Y discs,

I provide a spring take-up, Whichfmaytake-the iiiorm, off-reversed? telescopic; cups26, withinv which -end frame.

tioned'below tlie'motor base `on'the 'sidetoward f the discs,-so that such'base in tilting `wi1l tend to compress-'the spring. YA roller 29 may'becarriedb'ythe uppercup to rengage with Athe u'nde'r surface of y'the motorbase, to lprovide a Vrolling contact between such base and the springtake-up mechanism. The lower cup may be provided with a'threa'ded stem 30,scr'ewed into a threaded pe'ning in the arm'28 4and provided with nuts I31150 lock vthe lower cup in adjustedpositionwith 'reflerence to the arm: The nuts may be loosened and the cup screwed'further up'or lower downto the desired position 'to adjust the resistance of the spring to the'tilting action of the motor vto the desired degree. Adjustable stop means for arresting the-movement of the motor at' the'desired angular position of the'latter may take the form of a ring 32,'-threa'ded on the outside ofthe lower c-up Amember `and adjustable vertically thereon-to limit the downward movement of Ythe upper cup member, and hence thetilting movement of the motor.

The weight arm 24 may form a handle whereby the motor can be manually tilted backward away from the discs to disconnect the. kdrive wheel therefrom, and whereby the motor can be shifted bodily alongthe bar 6 tob'ring the drive wheel into proper alignment With'the discs-preparatory to engaging them beforethe motor is started up.

Shaft extension bearing .frame Ihe discs DiandE are -mounted onltheext'ension C of the cylinder shaft B, Vvwhich .projects outwardlybeyond the end frame A-of the spinning frame, vanda bearing for the cylinder'shaft may be provided in the cross-bar 33 of and-H- frame N, which is bolted, as at'34, "to the end frame-A of thev spinning frame. l

The outer end of the shaft extension is supportedin a Abearing mounted within the housing 35, suchfhousing-being carried by a plate 36, I

whichiis bolted or otherwise secured-as at 3'7,`to the channel bar 38 of the bearing frame F. Such Achannel bar is horizontally arranged, andfat its ends is bolted, as at 39, toinwardly extending extensions of the brackets 40, whichlatter--are i bolted orotherwise secured, as at41, -to the uprights of the end frame A. The bearing for the shaft-extension is thus rigidly supported onthe sionsV of the bracketslo, andsuch-extensions are V'adjustable longitudinallywi'th reference tothe "fchannellbar -i'nfrder'toI adjust the bearing fri-ame tothe width of `the particular spinning `frame Ato which it is to be'y attached. 'Ihe brackets'liO vmay be castwith suitable webs i2,y as illustrateato make .them strong and rigid `in constructio'nan'd at. the saine.' time light in weight. The bearing .housing 'B5/may be provided with a'coverj43,

whichis removable forp'urposes ofinspecting and vgrease-packing the bearings, such cover when: inplace Vforming with the housingi'a grease ltig-ht lcontainer Vfor the* bearing.

It is made adjustable to frames ofy varyingdimensions by reasonof the slots receiving-the bolts 37 fand-41. beingv vertically `extended -('the slots for the'bolts 41 being formed inv the -uprightsof-the end frame) and the slots for the vbolts'39 being horizontally extended. The channel'ba'r`38 is substantially U-shapedfin' verticalisectiony ther'a-nges ofjwhich fit overfthe exten- Disc assembly' The discs D and E are positioned on the shaft extension between the bearing of the latter and the end frame A. One of these discs, for instance the disc D, is xed with reference to the shaft of the cylinder, while the other disc, E, is movable longitudinally of such shaft (but not circumferentially thereof) toward and away from the disc D, under the control of the indexing mechanism, later to be described, It may be here noted that, when the motor is started, the disc E is held by the indexing mechanism immovable with reference to the disc D, so that the digging-in movement of the driving wheel G is not due in any respect to the bodily movement of the driven discs away from each other, but is permitted by the flexibility of the discs themselves. Under the control of the indexing mechanism, the disc E may move in a direction away from the disc D during the running of the spinning frame, in order to allow the driving wheel to enter further between the discs, and hence increase the speed of the spinning frame as the layer thickness of the yarn on the bobbins increases, but this movement of the driving wheel further in between the discs, to increase the speed of the frame, as the discs are allowed to separate by the indexing mechanism, is not to be confused with the automatic inward or outward movement of the driving wheel with reference tothe discs, in automatically adjusting the position of the driving wheel to take up the load that is required to be overcome. As the driving wheel enters further between the discs under control of the indexing mechanism, it moves up on the taper of the disc D and at the same time is caused, by the camming action of the taper of the disc, to move longitudinally of the axis of oscillation, carrying with it the motor and motor base. e

'Ihe driven disc D may be cast ofvsuitable metal, such as iron, with radial webs 44 extending from the tapered flanges 45 of the disc to the hub 46 thereof, the tapered portion of the casting being machined, to make it as smooth and accurate as possible. The disc is secured in suitable fashion as by machine screws 47, which may pass through enlargements formed in the webs 44, to the flange 48 formed on a sleeve 49, which is preferably made of stainless steel, or Monel metal, and which is fixed to the extension C of the cylinder shaft of the spinning frame against movement with reference thereto.

Upon the sleeve 49 is mounted a bushing 50 made of suitable metal, such as bronze, and this bushing is keyed, as'at 51, onto the sleeve 49 for longitudinal sliding movement, but against rotative movement, with respect thereto. Upon the bronze bushing 50 the disc E is mounted, the hub of the disc being extended somewhat toward thel hub of the disc D, as at 52, and being reduced to receive a packing gland 53, to secure an oil packing 54 in position at the end of the hub, so that the bearing between the bronze bushing and the stainless steel 'sleeve' will be oiled. An oil duct 55 in the bushing communicates with an opening 56in the hub of the disc E, to allow the packing vto be oiled when desired. Except` when oiling Ythe packing, thisduct is closed by a screw plug to'retain the oil. The packing andl gland, in addition to retaining the oilfor keeping the sleeve lubricated, preventsthe oil from being sucked out of the sliding bearing under the influence of any partial vacuum that may be caused bythe circulation of the air lthrough the air holes in the discsas the latter revolve. These air holes are indicated at e, and are placed in the discs intermediate the webs 44 to allow the circulation of air, in order to keep the discs cool while running.

The' disc E is similar to the disc D, except that its hub is extended to receive the packing gland and is provided with the oil opening, and is secured to the flange of the bushing by screws, similarly to the manner in which the disc D is fastened to the sleeve 49.

lWhere the drive is used in connection with the spinning frame, the position of the disc E with reference to the disc D is controlled by the indexing mechanism, later to be described. Suffice it to say, at this point, that this positioning occurs through the cooperation of cams on the indexing mechanism with a cam which is formed on the end of the bushing 50 toward the spinning frame, and which I refer to as the disc cam. This cam on the bushing includes the high ats 57, the low iats 58 which may be of substantially double the width of the high iiats, and the slopes 59 which connect the high fiat portions of the cams lwith the low flat portions thereof.

Driving 'wheel assembly The driving wheel is mounted on the motor shaft, and ,is provided with a hub 60, tapered to lit the tapered end of the motor shaft, and is keyed against rotation with reference to the shaft, as at 61, a washer and nut, as at 62 (see Fig. l) being utilized to retain the wheel in place. From the hub 60. radiate spokes 63, connected by webs 64 at their ends towards the hub, such spokes being reduced at their outer ends at 65 to form bearings for receiving tapered spur gears 66. The latter are maintained in position by the rollers 67, which, being interposed between the driving disc 69, act as roller bearings, and even under the high pressure due to the wedging action, tending to press the driving discs together, permit them to rotate freely in either direction with respect to each other. These rollers 67 are retained in place by the heads of the screws 68 carried at the ends of the spokes.

The driving discs 69 are mounted for rotation on the hub of the driving spider (which comprises such hub with its radiating spokes), the one of such discs nearest the motor being retained in place by a ring 70, carried on the hub 60, and the other of such driving discs being retained in place-on the hub by the washer 62,

already referred to. Such discs are of greater diameter than the driving spider, and at their outer edges are provided with inwardly extending iianges 71, one of which is reduced to provide a rib 72, which projects into a recess 73 formed in the opposing flange. The recess contains packing material to retain lubricant necessary for the moving parts contained within the driving wheel. The lubricant may be inserted through an opening 69a in one of the discs. A threaded plug ordinarily closes this opening.

The driving discs 69 are rotatable with referenceto each other, and on their inner faces are provided with tapered yor beveled ring gears 74, which mesh with the tapered pinions 66. The driving wheel is thus in the form of a differential, to thereby equalize the transmission of power to the driven discs, and minimizes the frictional resistance between the driving wheel and, the driven discs, and'takes care of any mis-alignment that may occur between the driving wheel -and the driven discs.

The driving discs 69 on their outer faces, at

ver

theirperpheries, are recessed, as at 'T5-to receive annular composition rings 76, the outer edges of which rings; are formed with the tapers 5, already referred-to. Such composition rings. are preferably made'of high-ly compressed material impregnated with-- a lubricant,y such as graphite, in order to minimize the. frictional resistance between the drivingwheel, and `the driven discs. While offhand it would appear .that frictional resistance between the two is.: desirable, I have found to the contrary thatextremely good results are obtained whenthe coefficient of frictionof the contacting surfacesoi the drivingy wheel is` very low. Good results. may be obtained` when the coefficient is between ,50 and .10. Ihave also -found that, by providing the.- diiferential in: the driving wheel, the wear betweensuchwheel and the driven discs is very materially reduced, and the heat generated operation of the mechanism is kept at a low value.. Tests have shown that the differential constructioncf the driving wheel, particularly when combined with the driving surface of low coefficient of, friction, increases the efficiency of thedriva from the standpoint of power transmission, and minimization of wear and'heat.

installations where the alignment between the driving Wheel-and the driven discs can be maintained within close' limits, I may use a solid drivingwheel with composition rings or facings. OgrgI may use the differential driving wheel with thevdiferentiallocked in` suitable manner.

When the drive isused in any installation where adjnstable: speeds are. desired, I provide means whereby the driven discs are adjustable to vdifferent. distances apart, as shown. in Fig. 14. l In suchf'gure., C indicates the shaft to. be driven, 49A indicates theV sleeve.l mounted thereon and carrying the driven disc D. E' indicates the other drivendisc,N movable toward and away from the disc B1', the. disc E being mounted on the bushing'Y 50",. which may be keyed for longitudinal movement onfthe. sleeve; 49. The endof thebushing beyond thediso E" from; theI` discV D may be reduced. andithreadedgas at 120, toreceivefthe enlarged threaded. end of an adjusting nut 121,

againstwhich'the end off the. bushing 50-l abuts.

A.washer'122;. carried on the end ofthe sleeve 49', forms. a. stop toy limit the outward adjustment of thev nut 121', and' hence .the opening of the disc E. with, reference. to the disc D. The `nut may carry a springepressedplunger or detent, having .a rounded nose v1-23, which may engagey with any oneof anumber of rounded socketsor depressions 124l formed in the end of the bushing 50' for locking the nut in adjusted position. The disc E is maintained against the nut in any adjusted position of the'latter, during the operation of the drive, by the wedging action of the driving wheel G" (there. being illustrated a portion of a solid wheel. with composition rings, as described). To decrease the,l speed, the driving wheel is disengaged` and, when the shaft C stops rotating, the nut-iis, turned up to the desired amount-to shift the disc E. towardthe disc D', the engagement -of theldetent with the. roundedY sockets being'such that. the detent will be moved inwardly to allow the nut to turn, upon sufficient pressure being applied to the nut. If the speed is tobe increased, the,- nut is rotated in the opposite direction, to the-desired extent, to move outwardly away from the disc D", and. thedisc E. is shifted out to abut against'thenut, the nutv preferably being adjusted to a position where its detent will reengage with one of the sockets. After the adjustment the Wheel,v being; again brought into driving engagement withv the discs, will drive the latter at a'slower or greater rate of speed than before, depending uponrwhether the disc E has been shifted toward or awayfrom the disc D', the difference in speed, of course, being due to the fact that the engagement of the driving wheel with the discs will be at a point further. from or closer to the axis of the discs, as the case may be.

Indexing mechanism Where the drive is used in connection with a spinning frame of a cottonmill for instance, the indexing mechanism, now to be described, maybe used in conjunction with the drive, to automatically increase the speed of the spinning frame as the layer thickness of the yarn on the bobbins increases, by allowing separation of the driven ydiscs and consequent movement of the-drivi`ng wheel closer and'closer to theaxis of rotation of the discs.k y

As is well known to those familiar wthspinning frames, the ring rail of the frame carries thel travellers which guide theyarn Vonto the bobbins and at the same time twists it. This ring rail is driven from the traverse cam lever of the frame through the intermediary of the builder motion.

The traverse cam lever is moved by the builder cam, which in turn is driven by gearing fromthe tin cylinder shaft. j

` The indexing mechanism of my invention may be operated from the traverse cam lever, and I the' builder cam is not illustrated, as itis well understood. Nor is the ring rail and theA associated mechanism, operated from the traverse cam le.- ver, i1lustratedas this also is understood. Suflice it-to say that the lever 78 moves up and down under the influence of thebuilder camL asthe cylinder shaft rotates. The indexingV mechanism, whichis mounted on the cylinder shaft, is oper.- ated fromthe traverse cam lever 78 by means of a. nexible. cable or cord `'79, which runs over suit,- ably disposed pulleys 80, `and which connects with the uprightann 81 of atrip lever 82. Fig. '7Y also shows these parts, such figure `being viewed from the opposite directionl from which Fig. 5 is viewed. The triplever 82 maybe pivotedat a convenient place, for. instance, on a pin 83 ,.carried by the H-frame N. A spiral. torsional spring-l 84, engaging the pin and trip lever,l normally retains the leverin raisedposition. A pin 85 may-beused as a stop for the. upward motion of the 1ever,\a second zpin 86 being used as a stopfor the. downward movement thereof. These pins may. also. be carried at convenient points, as bypthe frame N.

at the. upper end of the'arm 81 of. the-trip lever.

YBeyond such eye a coil spring 90 surrounds the bolt, and -adjusting nuts91, mounted onthebolt, determine the distance that the bolt may/.move relatively to the arm before the compression of the spring imparts motion to the latter.. It -follows-that the position ofthe nuts on. the bolt'de- Vtermines' the distance that the traverse cam lever '78` may move downwardly beforeshifting the trip'lever 82 downwardly. If the nuts 91 are adjusted close to the arm 81, the arm `willfmove downwardly at the beginning ofV theydownward ,movement'of the traverse cam lever. If-onthe l'io other hand, the nuts are adjusted away from the arm 81 the cam lever will move downwardlythrough a portion of its throw, before the compression of the spring picks up and moves the lever 82 downwardly. It will thus be understood that the time, during a cycle of movement of the traverse cam lever down and up, that the trip lever`is depressed, is undercontrol of the operator through adjustment of the nuts 91.

As will later appeana ratchet arm, through which the indexing mechanism is driven, rotates with-the cylinder shaft and is tripped by contacting with the trip lever 82, to move the indexing mechanism. Such indexing mechanism is moved a greater or less distance during each cycle of movement of the traverse cam lever, depending upon whether the trip lever 82 is depressed early or laterespectively with reference to such cycle of movement. The sooner the trip lever is depressed by operation of the traverse cam lever, the further the indexing mechanism is moved, and the greater the rate of increase of speed of the spinning frame under the control of the indexing mechanism. This because the cylinder shaft rotates many times during a cycle of movement of the traverse cam lever, and upon each of its revolutions the ratchet arm will be actuated by the trip lever to move the indexing mechanism one space. The later the depression of the lever 82, the `fewer the times the ratchet arm will be Ytripped during the cycle of movement of the traverse cam lever, and the less the rate of increase of speed of the spinning frame.

The indexing mechanism includes a ringshaped casting P, which is made in halves, secured together about the sleeve 49, carried on the cylinder shaft. Such ring or casting ts into a channel 92, formed circumferentially of the sleeve (see Fig. 2), the halves of the ring or casting being secured together by the machine screws 93. Thecasting rotates with the sleeve 49, and consequently with the cylinder shaft. Rotatably mounted on the sleeve 49, between the ring P and the adjacent cam-shapedend ofthe bushing 50, i. e., the disc cam, is a gear wheel R, and this gear, on the side toward the bushing 50, is provided with cams 94, which cooperate with the cams formed on the bushing. v

As illustrated, for instance in Fig. 9, the cams 94, i. e., the cams of the indexing mechanism, are opposite the high flats of the disc cam. The disc E, therefore, is relatively close to the disc D. As the gear R slowly .rotates through the operation of the indexing mechanism, the cams 94 move off of thehigh flatsv of the disc cam, and gradually move down the slopes of the latter. This allows thedisc E to move longitudinally of the sleeve '49 voutwardly away from the disc D, thus increasing the space between these discs, and allowing theV driving wheel to enter further between the discs, and hence increase the speed of the cylinder shaft, and consequently of the spinning frame. The ring or casting P, in conjunction with thev shouldered portion of the sleeve 49, formed by reason of the channel 92 in which the ring is clamped, takes up the thrust of the disc E longitudinally of the cylinder shaft.

Thegear R is driven by a worm S, disposed 'between the ears 95 and 96, which are formed on one edge of the ring or casting P, one on veach of the halves of such casting. The shaft 97 of the worm S has a bearing in such ears.

Carried onthe worm shaft 97, beyond the ear l96, and s lidablelongitudinally of such shaft, but

held against rotation relatively thereto, is an in Lasarte dex gear T. This gear is much smaller relatively than the gear R, and in turn is driven by a smaller worm U, the shaft of which is journaled in an ear 98, formed on the casting or ring P. On the extension of the shaft 99 of worm U, beyond the ear 98, is keyed a toothed ratchet gear W, a portion of such gear, reduced in diameter as at 100, separating the toothed portion of the gear from the face of the ring P and the ear 98. A collar 101 surrounds the ratchet gear W (see Figs. 9 and 13), such collar having a reduced portion 102, which bears on the reduced portion or shoulder 100 of the ratchet gear W, and having an opening of a size to receive the ratchet gear, the portion 103 surrounding such opening bearing upon a washer 104, which is mounted on the shaft 99 of worm U, beyond the ratchet W. A plate 105, of diameter greater than that of the washer 104, is fixed on the end of the shaft by a screw 106, or other means, thus retaining the collar and ratchet gear in assembled position on the shaft. The collar is free to rotate, relatively to the ratchet gear, upon the bearings formed by the shoulder 100 and the washer 104. This collar has formed therewith the ratchet arm X, bearing a roller 107 at its outer end. A ratchet pin 108, spring pressed as at 109, mounted in the ratchet arm X, engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel W.

The ratchet arm cooperates with the trip lever 82, in actuating the indexing mechanism. The direction of rotation of the cylinder shaft, and the indexing mechanism as a whole, is indicated by the arrow in Figs. 7 and 13. The lever 82 is curved, the curvature being such as to approximate the orbit of the roller 107 at the outer end of ratchet arm X, so that, when the trip lever is in fully raisedposition, the ratchet arm X will rotate bodily about the center of rotation of the cylinder shaft, without the roller 107 engaging with such trip lever. When the trip lever is depressed, however, it will intersect the orbit of the roller 107 sufficiently to throw the ratchet arm backward a distance such that the pin 108 will' move the distance of one tooth of the ratchet W. Upon the ratchet arm moving from beneath the trip lever, centrifugal force will throw the ratchet arm back to its original position, thus moving the ratchet W one tooth, and, as a consequence, through the medium of the worm U, index gear T and worm S rotating the gear R, and

hence shifting the index cams 94 with respect to the disc cam a distance which will correspond to the shift of the ratchet through one tooth.

By reason of the adjustability of the time of depression of the trip lever with respect to the cycle of movement of the traverse cam lever as before explained, the indexing mechanism can be adjusted so as not to be actuated at all as the cylinder .shaft rotates, and hence the cylinder shaft speed be kept constant throughout the period of winding of the yarn upon the bobbins, or the adjustment can be such that the indexing mechanism can be actuated and to a small or greater number of times during the spinning operation, so that the rate 'of increase of. speed of the spinning mechanism is under control and may be adjusted as desired.

In winding the bobbins in the manner known as the warp build, it is desirable to maintain the speed of the cylinder shaft constant, until the layer thickness of the yarn on the bobbins reaches a certain point, at which time it is then desirable to start the increase of speed of the cylinder shaft. In my mechanism, the indexing cams, at the beginning of the operation of winding'the bobbins, `are set, inl the manner later to beexplained; on the high lilats 5710i? the disc cam. The time ofV throw of the trip lever`I will havev been adjusted'- as desired; As'the machine starts up and the traverse cam lever lmoves up and down', the operating ratchet; upon each rotation of 'the cylinderV shaftafterz-the trip lever is depressed, will befkickedback by the-lever, and againthroivn forwardly by centrifugal action, to actuate the indexing mechanism.. The: speed, however, of the cylinder Vshaftwill remain constant, because the indexing cams are moving,v over thel high flats of thel dise. cam; This Irelative movementof the cams willlcontlnue tothe point where the. desired thickness of the wound yarn on the hobbinswill have been reached, whereupon the indexing cams` willv have reachedithe endsl of' the` highilats of the. disc cam and will start4 down the slopes of the latter. The continued'actuation ofthe indexing mechanism will thusl move the indexing cams'further around, thus allowing, through the bevel of theslopes, the disc E to move'outwardlywith reference to the-disc D, and hence the driving wheel tomove further in between the discs, thus increasingthe speedoffthe spinning frame as the layer thickness of the wound yarn increases. When the indexing cams have reached the low flats of the disc cam, the speed will again become constant, but will be high with reference to the beginning of the operation, and this latter constant speed will be maintained until the bobbins are full and it is time to doll.

The forward throw of the operating ratchet arm X is limited, and this may be accomplished by a pin 110, carried by the casting P, fitting into a groove 111, formed in the inner edge of the collar 101, which carries the ratchet arm. By reason of the shoulder at the end of such groove engaging the pin as the ratchet is thrown forwardly, such forward movement is stopped and the ratchet held in a predetermined forward position. It will maintain this position, under the .influence of centrifugal force, except when it is thrown rearwardly by engagement with the trip lever.

Concerning now the method of returning the indexing cam to original position at the beginning of the spinning operation, it will be observed that the index gear T is movable longitudinally of the shaft 97 of worm S, being held against rotation by a spring-pressed key 112, the shank 113 of which fits into an opening in the shaft 97, above a spring 114. This key is shouldered, as at 1.15 (see Fig. 8), and the shoulder retains the index gear T in engagement with the worm U during normal operation of the indexing mechanism. When, however, the doiilng period has been reached and the machine stopped, the key 112 is depressed by the operator and the index gear T pulled outwardly, which will disengage it from the worm U, whereupon the gear may be rotated by hand to quickly rotate the gear R, and hence the index cams, until they have assumed their correct position on the high flats of the disc cam for the beginning of the spinning operation. A washer 116, secured on the outer end of the worm shaft 97 by a screw 117, prevents the gear T from being accidentally withdrawn from the shaft, but allows the gear to be entirely disengaged from the worm U, so as to clear the latter as the indexing mechanism is reset. It will be understood that the motor, at the end of the spinning operation, will have been thrown by hand to the left, to tilt the driving Wheel out of engagement withithedr-'iven discs, so that the rotation offthe indexing'g'ea'r'to initial position Hwill shift the driven disc E toits-*initial relatively closeposition With-respect to disc D. The disc E'may be movedpver to rinitial position by lhand first, and the Vindexin-g'nleclianisrri v`then reset, vif desired.-

In `^order to counterbalance the weight of the driving mechanism forthe gear R, which is assembled substantially onone side of the axis of the collar P, the latter, on the opposite sideI of such axis, is'weigl/ited,"V asat 118;- Thel entirey indexing mechanism is thus balanced with reference tothe axisof rotation of thecylinder shaft.

by manually adjusting the indexing mechanism to maintain the disc E further from or closer to the disc D to the extent desired.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the invention are believed to be cleai' without further description.

The detailed description and illustration of the invention have been given for purposes of clearness of understanding, and no undue limitations should be deduced therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a variable speed friction drive, a driving wheel comprising a hub adapted to be mounted on the shaft of a motor, relatively rotatable diiving discs journalled on the hub and each having a tapered working surface, interengaging differential gearing between the driving discs and hub, and interengaging lubricant retaining means between the discs beyond the differential gearing from the hub.

2. In a variable speed friction drive, the combination of a driving Wheel having tapered working surfaces, a pair of driven discs having tapering working surfaces adapted to be engaged by the working surfaces of the driving wheel, a sleeve upon which one of the driven discs is fixed and upon which the other disc is keyed for longitudinal movement toward and away from the said one disc, lubricating means between the said other disc and sleeve, and means for retaining the lubricating means in place.

3. In a variable speed friction drive, driven discs for transmitting power to a shaft to be rotated, comprising a flanged sleeve adapted to be mounted on the shaft, a disc xed on the flange of said sleeve, a flanged bushing mounted on the sleeve for longitudinal'and against rotary movement relatively thereto, another disc xed to the flange of the bushing, and lubricating means between the sleeve and bushing.

4. In a variable speed friction drive for spinning frames, the combination of driven discs mounted on the cylinder shaft of the spinning frame, one of said discs being movable toward and away from the other and being provided with a. cam, a driving wheel adapted to engage the driven discs and. to move toward the shaft as the discs separate for increasing the speed of the discs and shaft, and indexing mechanism rotatably mounted on the shaft and having a cam cooperating with the cam of the movable disc whereby the movable disc can be moved longitudinally of the shaft as the indexing mechanism is actuated, and means operable from the spinning frame for actuating the indexing mechanism.

5. In a variable speed friction drive for spinning frames, the combination of driven discs for rotating the cylinder shaft of the frame, including an axially movable disc provided with a cam, and indexing mechanism having a cam cooperating with the disc cam whereby the disc can be moved axially as the indexing mechanism is actuated, means operable by mechanism of the spinning frame for actuating the indexing mechanism and driving means for the driven discs adapted to move said movable disc axially under permission of said indexing mechanism and to simultaneously move inwardly nearer the center of the discs.

6. In a variable speed friction drive for spinning frames, the combination of a driven disc for operating the shaft of the frame and movable longitudinally of the shaft, and indexing mechanism mounted on the shaft, including a cam adapting the -disc for adjustment longitudinally of the shaft and including a ratchet mechanism and intermediate gearing between the ratchet mechanism and cam for actuating the latter as the ratchet mechanism is actuated, and means operable by the spinning frame adapted to actuate the ratchet mechanism.

7. In a Variable speed friction drive for spinning frames, the combination of a driven disc mounted on the cylinder shaft of the frame for rotating the shaft and being movable longitudinally of such shaft, indexing mechanism including a cam adapted to cooperate with the driven disc for determining the position of the latter longitudinally of the shaft, and a train of gearing for operating said cam including a gear detachable from the train and adapted to be manually actuated for returning the cam to initial position.

RALPH RAGAN. 

